The Oneida Daily Dispatch (Oneida, NY)
VVS boys take home Section III crown
ONEIDA, N.Y. » Trailing Chittenango 1-0 after the first set in the Section III Class B boys volleyball title game, Vernon-VeronaSherrill was in danger of repeating last season’s 3-0 sweep loss to the Bears.
The Red Devils would not be denied this year however, rallying to take three straight sets, extracting a measure of revenge, capturing the Class B crown in four sets, 25-27, 25-21, 25-21, 25-23.
“We’ve been back and forth all seasonlong. BothCoachRose and I have been looking at the stats and we are statistically the same team. We are as close as we can be,” said Coach Chittenango Michael Dziedzic on the production of both teams this year.
The Red Devils started off slow in the first set as Chittenango senior outside hitter Seth Spurgeon’s serves gave the Bears a substantial 10-3 lead. Coordinating the offense for the Bears was senior setter Timothy Ryder, who found senior outside hitter Jacob Graham early to spark their offense. After trading points, it seemed as if the Bears were going to coast into taking the first game. The course
of the first set changed once VVS put together points after hard fought rallies led by junior libero Cole Smith. After a serving streak and ace by VVS junior defensive specialist Jake Starke, coupled with the offensive production from seniors Owen Rose and Nate Brewer, the Devils cut the six point deficit, forcing a Bears timeout with the set tied at 23. Although they were in reach to come back and take the first game, a kill by Spurgeon and a net call ended the first game in the Bear’s favor, taking game one 2725.
“I know it sounds kind of funny, but he (Coach Rose) had us breathe and just kind of relax, take in the moment, and unleash what we have been doing all year,” said Owen Rose on what was said after losing the first set.
Though down a game, the Devils took their newly found momentum into game two and did not give the Bears such a generous lead. Trading points for the majority of the set, the Bears began to look to senior middle hitter Griffen Smith for offensive production and saw several defensive rallies led by junior libero Griffin Furco and Ryder. For the Devils, the offensive production was still in the hands of Rose and Brewer. Midway throug the set, sophomore defensive specialist Gavin Miller put together a small serving run, giving the Devils a 15-12 lead, which was ended by a misplaced hit. Missed serves by VVS as well as solid defensive play by the Bears brought the Bears back into the game, tying the contest at 17. Continuing to trade points, Smith had a serve that rolled over the net for an ace, giving the Devils a 22-18 lead and had Chittenango take a timeout. The Devils took the second set 25-21 after senior outside hitter Brennan Hale put down a Chittenango pass that drifted over to their side of net.
Unlike the first two sets, the Devils started off the third set strong with Strake putting together a serving run and a 5-0 lead. VVS led by as many as seven after a kill by senior middle hitter Matt DeNova, forcing a Chittenango timeout. After the timeout, Ryder rallied the Bears with a serving streak, as well as finding Smith and Spurgeon, cutting the deficit to three, having VVS take a timeout with a 14-11 lead. Chittenango continued getting good looks offensively with strong hits continuing from Spurgeon and Graham, however the Devils kept their composure and held off the Bears, ending the set with a DeNova spike off a single blocker, taking game 3 25-21.
The fourth set started off with both teams hitting balls out of bounds as well as missing serves. VVS took a timeout early on in the set after a misplaced hit by Brewer. Chittenango began to put plays together, and with a heads up play by Graham and junior outside hitter Nick Callahan, gave the Bears momentum after the timeout, leading the Devils 8-5. The Bears continued to hold a slight lead for the majority of the fourth set until a serving run by Rose. After a botched serve receive tied the game at 15, the Bears took a timeout. Miscommunication continued to be a factor for the Bears as they let another Rose serve drop. A series of plays put together by Chittenango’s Callahan, however brought the game back into reach, giving them a 20-17 lead and forcing a VVS timeout. After the timeout, the Devils would not be denied. After trading points, Starke put together a small serving run, which gave the Devils the lead and what held off the Bears was the offensive production from Brewer, who had the final kill, winning the final set of the match 25-23.
Winning his first sectional title in volleyball, Coach Alex Rose knew that it was not going to come easy. “Throughout this year, we beat Chittenango in five sets and they beat us in four sets. Four of the sets we lost we had game point or were close to finishing and lost.” In regards to his team’s rallying performance after the first game Coach Rose said, “We didn’t steal one in terms of the score, but we took themomentumand it was huge in turning the tide around a little bit and getting excited to go into the next set and play.”
“I’m on cloud nine,” said Senior Nate Brewer, who led VVS’ offense for the night, on his team’s victory over the Chittenango Bears. Commenting on the match, Brewer said, “We definitely came out slow in the first set. It was great to see our team come back, even though we lost, and I really think we took that energy into the next three games with us. Everything just starting going into line, but the credit should not go to all of us up front. The game starts with a pass and then it’s a set and then it’s us.”
With the Class B sectional title won, the VernonVerona-Sherrill Red Devils went on to play Hudson for the regional Championship Saturday, March 3. Unfortunately, the match was not finished in time for print. Check the results online at oneidadispatch.com/sports.